Snaps

I purchased one of those new gadgets to use for putting snaps on clothing and other odds and ends.  I am addicted.  I originally purchased the gadget for putting snaps on the back of baby bibs.  I ordered the gadget first and then I made several bibs, experimenting with the size and shape.  I waited for the item to arrive.  It came rather quickly, but the snaps took another couple weeks to arrive.  I had to order more colors this weekend because I am addicted to the fun!  I gave away some of the bibs, but here are the results:

I purchased the tool for attaching snaps at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251393933125?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
I purchased the snaps at:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400248725165?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
The best bib pattern is here:
http://www.craftaholicsanonymous.net/free-bib-pattern-for-all-skill-levels

I made a few changes in the shape and I placed snaps on the bottom so there could be a pocket.  As you see, the pocket goes out a little.  The placement of the upper snaps is 1/4" in so it would help the pocket poke out and work better.  The bib can be unsnapped for washing.  I used cotton quilting fabric for the top and flannel for the back.  After experimenting with one piece of flannel and one piece of quilting fabric, I thought they should have 2 pieces of flannel and one piece of quilting fabric for the top.  One piece of flannel didn't seem thick enough for catching spills.  I tried fleece and other backings, but they did sew as smoothly as flannel.

The snaps are easy to put on.  I only had one that did not quite stay on right.  I am sure that I had the tool over too far, or something like that.  If you are wondering about purchasing a snap setting tool, you can get them at local fabric stores.  I do a lot of purchases on line so I ordered mine on-line.  I hope my projects were inspirations for you.  If you have any comments or questions, please let me know.  Thank you for looking at my blog!  Dawnie

Oddity

I have viewed pictures of odd looking chicken eggs on the Internet, but my chickens have not laid any of these oddities, until now.  I finally have one.  It has shrunk a little over the day.  Instead of it laid and left in the nesting boxes, it was on the floor of the coop.  Maybe the hen knew it was not up to normal standards.  LOL

 New chicken pot holder.  I sell my pot holders in my web store at:  http://www.custercottage.com

Thank you for viewing!  Happy New Year!  Dawnie

More chicken pot holders

http://www.custercottage.com

 

http://www.custercottage.com

Thank you for viewing!  Dawnie

Baking for the Holiday

It is snowing outside.  B made a large pot of chili.  The dogs are napping in the living room on the furniture.  The chickens are out, but under the roof in the screened area.  Since the meals have been taken care of, I am able to bake.  I made fudge earlier, there is a pear-cranberry sauce in the pot, and spritz cookies are just out of the oven.  The light is different outside when there is snow.  It gives off a light type of glow; beautiful!  We always made spritz cookies when I was growing up.  I thought they were better than the ordinary cookie since they had a design and didn't look like all of the other cookies.  With this batch I mixed in a green dye making the cookies marbled green and off-white.  I made trees with this marbled batter and sprinkled them with a light green sugar.  Some of the trees received a few colored beads.

How was your day?  I hope you had joyous times with friends and family.  Merry Christmas!

Cup Cozy & Butterscotch Pecan Fudge

Simple Butterscotch Pecan Fudge Recipe:
Combine in a microwave safe pan, one small can of sweetened, condensed milk, one package 11.5 or 12 ounces of white chocolate morsels and one package of 11.5 or 12 ounces of butterscotch morsels.  Cook in the microwave for 30 seconds and stir.  Repeat cooking for 30 seconds intervals until the morsels melt.  Remove the pan from the microwave and add 1 tablespoon of vanilla and 1/4 cup of chopped pecans and stir well.   You may want to reserve a few pecan pieces to sprinkle on the top of the fudge.  Pour the fudge into a greased 9 X 13 pan.  Cool in the refrigerator until the fudge sets up.  Cut, eat, and enjoy!

Do  you notice what is on my desk?  A crochet hook is next to my pens.  It is a necessary object to everyone's desk isn't it?

This week I was asked if I made cup or mug cozies.  I usually fill my coffee or tea cup half full and go back and forth for refills quite often.  I was told that cozies keep your mug warm for twice the time.  My mind immediately went to the tea cozies I make which keep your tea pots warm much longer.  The best insulating fibers for cozies are wool or cotton.  I viewed several cup/mug cozies on the Internet and found many varieties.  Many of the artisans used buttons for closure, some made cozies without any openings and other cozies were only connected at the top and bottom like the one I made.  I used hand-spun wool to make my cozy.  I am also attaching a photo of old cup cozies I purchased several years ago.  These are only large enough for juice cups.  They have a crocheted bottom.  I think they were made with the intended use as decoration and for keeping the sweat off of table tops when drinking iced drinks.  Do you use a cup/mug cozy?  What type of a cozy would you prefer?  Thank you for reading my blog.  I hope you have a great weekend!  Dawnie

Antler Delima and Life

I made a hat this week and I tried to make antlers for it.  I tried several ways to make the antlers, but I am not satisfied with the results.  I crocheted small tubes with acrylic yarn.  In these tubes I placed a silicone tube with wire inside of it.  This wire tubing was designed to tie up plants in the garden, etc.  I found the hat works better when it is on backwards, but no one would know the difference, except for me.  Do you have any good ideas for making antlers?

For fun and your viewing pleasure, I am modeling my hat in this picture with Bruce.

 

This child mohair hat is a Christmas present.  Is sure is fuzzy!

What have you been doing for the holidays?   This evening we watched the movie The Holiday.  As I  watched this movie I longed to visit England, Ireland, and Scotland.  I want to view the cozy country cottages, watch sheep graze in the green pastures, explore fences made from stones, and sip tea from a china cup in front of a roaring fire in a fireplace.  The most amazing experience would be to see all of the different tea cozies used and made in this part of the world.  Here we rarely use them, but I still prefer a hot cup of tea and a tea cozy will allow a teapot to stay hot longer.  Taking tea is not a tradition in Kansas, but it should be.  If you are interested in tea cozies, view the cozies at my shop.  http://www.custercottage.com

Merry Christmas!  Dawnie

The cutest model

A couple of months ago I posted this photo of a hat I made.  I added a little more to it before the cutie on the top photo received the hat.  He is sure a cute model!

Merry Christmas!  Dawnie